Trump’s cybersecurity review misses deadline

WASHINGTON — After a receiving a U.S. intelligence assessment on Russian’s interference in last year’s elections, President Donald Trump vowed that he would have a team present him with a review of America’s cybersecurity efforts within 90 days of taking office.

But Thursday was the 90-day mark and no plan has been presented. The missed target date, one of several blown deadlines in the administration’s first months, has resulted in uncertainty as to who is running the cyber review and when it might be completed. The White House insisted that a plan was in the works but did not offer any timetable.

“The president has appointed a diverse set of executives with both government and private sector expertise who are currently working to deliver an initial cybersecurity plan through a joint effort between the National Security Council and the Office of American Innovation,” said spokeswoman Lindsey Walters.

She did not address why the deadline was missed.

There was no ambiguity to Trump’s meaning in January before taking office. He had just received a briefing about Russian hacking and declared “whether it is our government, organizations, associations or businesses, we need to aggressively combat and stop cyberattacks.”

“I will appoint a team to give me a plan within 90 days of taking office,” he continued. “The methods, tools and tactics we use to keep America safe should not be a public discussion that will benefit those who seek to do us harm.”